A Comparative Study Between Routine Acupuncture And Routine Plus Ling Gui Ba Fa For Treating Chronic Low Back Pain

Background:Chronic Low Back Pain is a common disease,and the most common cause of absenteeism from work.These days,there is an increasing trend in patients and physicians to treat it by acupuncture.Study design:This study consists of three parts.One is a clinical trial,we compared the efficacy of two different acupuncture methods including "Body Acupuncture" and "Body Acupuncture accompanied by Ling Gui Time Method of Acupuncture" in the treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain by means of 4 scales;the change in Visual Analogous Scale(VAS) score during the first therapy session,number of therapeutic sessions needed,number of days being absent from work during treatment and during 3 months follow up, and the relapse of pain during 3 months follow up.In the second part,we surveyed of Smoking,Education, Age,Gender,Body Mass Index and Depression in a case-control study on 60 patients with Chronic Low Back Pain and 100 patients without Low Back Pain(Control group).In the third part of this study which is a case-series in which we investigate the efficacy of acupuncture in 60 patients with chronic Low Back Pain after 10 sessions of therapy.Results:In the clinical trial part,we found "Body Acupuncture+ Ling gui time method" more effective than Body Acupuncture alone in decreasing VAS(P value<0.001) and therapeutic sessions(P value<0.001). There was not any significant difference between two therapy methods in decreasing absent days during the therapeutic course(P value>0.05),but after 3 months follow up,Body acupuncture+ time method acupuncture was significantly more effective in decreasing the absenteeism than body acupuncture alone(P value<0.05).The two group patients were not different about relapse of pain,4 weeks after the end of treatment during follow up(P value>0.05).However the group treated by "Body Acupuncture+ Ling gui time method" showed lower relapse rate after 12 weeks of treatment,compared to the group treated only by Body Acupuncture(P value<0.05). Smoking(P value<0.05),Age(P value<0.05),BMI(P value<0.001),Gender(P value<0.05),and Depression (P value<0.05) had an association with Chronic Low Back Pain.We didn't find any relationship between Education(P value>0.05),and Chronic Low Back Pain. Acupuncture was effective in the treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain in 78%of patients(P value of two tailed t test<0.001).Conclusion:Applying the time method accompanying the ordinary body acupuncture would enhance the effectiveness of the treatment and the endurance of it in patients with Chronic Low Back Pain.